The offer follows ongoing and constructive engagement with Trade Unions across the Scottish Joint Council (SJC), Craft Operatives and Chief Officials bargaining groups.

COSLA Resources Spokesperson, Councillor Katie Hagmann, said:

“I’m pleased that we have been able to write to our SJC Trade Unions with a much-improved offer for the local government workforce. We have requested that our Trade Union colleagues seek their members’ views on this improved offer, and we welcome the announcement from UNISON today that they intend to ballot members with a recommendation to accept. We value the collective bargaining process with our Trade Union partners and remain committed to reaching a speedy and mutually agreeable resolution to pay negotiations.

“If this offer is accepted, workers will see a cumulative uplift in their pay of 7.64% by March 2027. It’s important to note that the public sector is still experiencing severe financial constraints, and the improved offer is at the absolute limit of affordability, exhausting all available funding alongside the flexibilities and additional money contributed by the Scottish Government.

“It will provide our employees with much-needed certainty and stability around their income over a two-year period, at a time when cost of living pressures continue to affect many households. The offer reflects the high value we place on the Local Government workforce and the invaluable work they do every day serving communities across Scotland.”